FN – Persimmon Tree: An Online Magazine of the Arts by Women Over Sixty Seeking Short Takes on the Theme: Friendship and Other Gifts

This is the season of giving–and receiving. What’s on your wish list–for yourself, for those you love? What is the greatest, or most memorable, or best, or worst gift you have ever been given–or that you ever gave? The gift you’ll write about may be a thing you tie up with a bow; or it could be an intangible: Being a good friend is a gift, as is knowing how to be. Gifts can be two-edged swords: In Old Norse and in some modern Scandinavian languages as well, the word that corresponds to “gift” in English, “gjöf” (pronounced “gyuv”), can, depending on the context, also mean “potion” or “poison.” You may wish to write about the magic potion you once received–or the poison. Finally, gifts often come with strings attached. In many cultures around the globe, a gift creates for its recipient the burden of reciprocity; she must return the favor, sometimes two-fold or more. When has someone given you a something that turned out to be as much obligation as gift?

Projected publication date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Submissions will be accepted: November 17 to November 21
(Please do not submit earlier or later than those dates.)

Your submission must be under 500 words. Submit it to us as a Word document; be sure your name, address, phone number, and email address are all in the Word document. Send us the document by an email addressed to shorttakes@persimmontree.org, and type “Short Take” in the subject line of the email.

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